Gold Coast Attractions

Lamington National Park

"Lush rainforests, ancient trees, spectacular views, extensive walking tracks, exceptional ecological importance and natural beauty make this World Heritage-listed park an outstanding place to visit.

Declared in 1915, Lamington National Park covers 20,590ha and boasts extensive walking tracks along the McPherson Range, which allow visitors to explore the area's forests, creeks and waterfalls. Dramatic lookouts afford views over the Gold Coast, south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Lamington is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, which includes the most extensive areas of subtropical rainforest in the world, most of the world's warm temperate rainforest and nearly all of the Antarctic beech (Nothofagus moorei) cool temperate rainforest."*

* Courtesy of EPA Queensland Website

Website http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/lamington/index.html

Springbrook National Park

"Dominating the Gold Coast's western skyline, Springbrook's cool forests and mountain streams offer visitors views of impressive landscapes, and walks among subtropical and temperate rainforest, open eucalypt forest and montane heath. Spectacular waterfalls, cascades and tumbling creeks are dominant features in this World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia park.

Springbrook National Park covers 3425ha and is in three sections - Springbrook plateau, Mount Cougal to the east and Natural Bridge to the west. The plateau has many lookouts with fabulous views while Mount Cougal offers an insight into the area's logging history. Visit Natural Bridge by day to see a unique waterfall or after dark to discover the park's amazing glow-worms.

On the banks of the Nerang River and shaded by a forest setting, the Numinbah Forest Reserve's day-use area is a perfect spot for a barbecue or picnic."*

* Courtesy of EPA Queensland Website

Website http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/index.html

Tamborine National Park

"Within an hour's drive of Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Tamborine National Park is very popular with day visitors seeking picnic facilities and short walks in a natural environment. Travelling north from the Gold Coast, Tamborine Mountain is 36km from Southport via the Pacific Highway and the Oxenford-Tamborine Road or 28km from Nerang via the Nerang-Beaudesert Road. From Canungra, take the Tamborine Mountain Road for 4km.

The Witches Falls section of the park was declared in 1908, making it Queensland's first national park. Over the years additional reserves have been declared and today the park is made up of 13 sections of land on the Tamborine plateau and surrounding foothills.

The park protects remnants of Tamborine Mountain's plant communities and includes areas of rainforest with distinctive piccabeen palm groves, wet eucalypt forest dominated by tall flooded gums, open forest with bracken fern understorey and woodland. Surrounded by urban and rural development, these plant communities provide essential wildlife habitat. Tamborine Mountain escarpment contains 85 percent of all fauna species and 65 percent of all flora species in the Gold Coast City area."

* Courtesy of EPA Queensland Website

Website http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/tamborine/index.html

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Feed the Rainbow Lorikeets as well as some of Australia's more unique bird species. Visit the Crocodile Wetlands and get close to the Saltwater Crocodile, the world's largest living reptile. Experience a fascinating tour of the sanctuary after dark, allowing you to get closer than ever to incredible native animals.

Phone +61 (0)7 5534 1266
Website www.cws.org.au

Tropical Fruit World

Explore the world's largest variety of tropical fruit (over 500 varieties) on a Plantation Safari, the Mini Train or a relaxing River Boat Cruise. Visitors can enjoy unique fruits such as the ice cream bean, chewing gum fruit, champagne fruit, lemon meringue pie fruit and the red dragon fruit at the regular fruit tasting shows.

Phone + 61 (0)2 6677 722
Website www.tropicalfruitworld.com.au

Phone +61 (0)7 5573 2255

Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk

"Discover beauty, mystery and history along the 54 kilometre Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk linking the species-rich, Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area of Lamington and Springbrook plateaus via the scenic Numinbah Valley. Walk through the ancient volcanic landscape of the Tweed Volcano, which is still being eroded by rushing streams and plummeting waterfalls, through lush rainforest with relicts of Gondwana flora and fauna.

The walk offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences - where else in Queensland can you walk along the rim of an ancient volcano?

The Great Walk passes through Woonoongoora, the place known to the Yugambeh as "Queen of the Mountains", whose story tells of the formation of the rivers and valleys of this area. The Yugambeh are descendants of the traditional Aboriginal people whose ancestors walked this land a long, long time ago. They say to you now... Kulli bugoram dhagun nya nya yahngahla (This (is) special land - walk carefully)."*

* Courtesy of EPA Queensland Website

Website http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/great_walks/gold_coast_hinterland_great_walk/

The Gold Coast Unique Equation

   Abseiling
+ AquaDuck tours
+ Arts & crafts markets
+ Beautiful sun-drenched beaches
+ Bungee jumping
+ Bush walking
+ Casinos
+ Community events
+ Cultural events
+ Duty free shopping
+ Exciting nightlife
+ Fine dining
+ Fishing
+ Golf
+ Hinterland wineries
+ Jazz festivals
+ Lush subtropical rain forests
+ Mini golf
+ Mountain biking
+ Mountains & valleys of the hinterland
+ River cruises
+ Stradbroke Island cruises
+ Theme parks
+ Water sports
+ Whale watching
+ World Heritage-listed National Parks
+ Much, much more

= Perfect holiday for the whole family